Matador Network's Blog, page 176
April 8, 2024
Want to Party in Amsterdam? The City Asks You Take This ‘Amsterdam Rules’ Quiz First
The Netherland’s early decriminalization of cannabis (1976) and legalization of prostitution (2000) has turned Amsterdam into Europe’s wildest party destination. For decades, the Dutch capital city has been the preferred spot for drug, alcohol, and sex-fuelled vacations, including raucous bachelor parties (also known as stag dos or stag parties), but the fun has gone a little too far and now Amsterdam and its inhabitants want to clean up its reputation and its streets. The city hopes that the ‘Amsterdam Rules‘ quiz might help.
In an effort to attract less problematic tourists, i.e. those who are less interested in sex shows and coffee shops and more focused on tulips and the Rijksmuseum, the city of Amsterdam has created a quiz meant for potential visitors. Prospective tourists to Amsterdam just need to answer a few questions about what they’d like to do while in the city and, depending on their answers, will get told that they should go ahead with their trip or just change their plans altogether.
Whether or not the quiz will help deter the party animals from traveling to Amsterdam and vomiting all over the locals’ flower boxes or peeing on the facades of their lovely canal houses remains unclear, but it’s another step towards making the city more enjoyable for everyone.
The ‘Amsterdam Rules’ quiz is the latest of Amsterdam’s attempts to dissuade partiers to come to the city. In the past few years, the rules have been tightened around what one can or cannot do in Amsterdam, especially in the Red Light District, where a lot of the messy partying happens. Guided tours of the Red Light District were banned in 2020, public drinking and cannabis smoking are forbidden, pub crawls are prohibited, bachelor parties are no-gos, and there’s even been talk of moving the Red Light District from the center of the city entirely. In 2023, the city of Amsterdam has gone as far as launching an explicit ad campaign that asked young British male tourists to “stay away”. 
Part of an Engine Apparatus Fell Off During a Southwest Flight Sunday Morning
It’s no secret that airlines have been in the news lately for airplane issues, ranging from mid-air disasters to hiccups related to passengers behaving badly. But on Sunday morning, attention was once again drawn to Southwest Airlines, when a piece of its engine apparatus fell off mid-flight.
According to the airline, Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 left Denver International Airport at 7:40 AM on Sunday, April 7. It was bound for Houston, Texas, but during takeoff, passengers reported hearing a loud bump. Moments later, someone noticed something understandably alarming: a large piece of one of the engine covers, called a cowling, had fallen off and was stuck on the wing.
#Breaking #Ongoing Southwest Airlines Flight 3695, a B-737, was involved in an incident in Colorado (US). No injuries aboard. On take-off from Denver, the jet lost the engine cowlings from the #2 engine. The flight later made a safe return to Denver International Airport. Updates… pic.twitter.com/ozTx8Hg5a9
— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) April 7, 2024
The plane immediately turned around and returned to Denver without incident, with no injuries reported. The flight was assigned to a different plane, which brought passengers to Houston about three hours behind schedule.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in a very short statement that it will investigate the incident, simply reporting “Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the crew reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap. The aircraft was headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for additional information.”
It’s no surprise what company made the plane
Photo: First Class Photography/Shutterstock
It’s Southwest and United airlines that have been in the news the most lately, but that’s because both airlines are the largest buyers of planes from one company. And it won’t surprise anyone what that company is: Boeing. Boeing has not made a public comment on the incident, but the FAA has been investigating the airplane manufacturer for a series of quality control issues that began in January 2024, when an airplane door flew off a Boeing plane mid-flight.
Since then, it’s failed a production audit, and the FAA announced after an investigation that it had “identified non-compliance issues in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control.” In March, the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to fix its quality issues, while simultaneously forcing it to halt production on any new 737 MAX aircraft. Of the major airlines, Southwest and United have the most 737 MAX jets in their fleet, which may explain why those two airlines have seen the lion’s share of airplane issues over the last four months.
Boeing is the largest producer of commercial aircraft in the world, and is, along with AirBus, one of only two large-scale commercial aircraft producers in the world. It’s estimated that roughly 42 percent of commercial aircraft in use are produced by Boeing.
Google Flights Will Refund You Up to $500 if the Price Lowers After Booking
Flights are unquestionably more expensive than usual right now. This is due to the substantial demand for travel following the pandemic and the consequent rise in operating costs. With fewer seats available to meet the high demand, prices have skyrocketed. So, finding a good deal on a flight is more important than ever, but what happens if the price plummets after you book? If, like me, you study price charts on Google Flights but then book directly with the airline, you might be making a mistake.
In April 2023, Google Flights introduced a “price guarantee” policy that many people are unaware of. The booking system can refund passengers the difference in price if the cost of the flight drops after the ticket is purchased.
Google Flights offers this for select flights departing from the US. These flights are specifically marked with a “price guarantee” badge. Once you book one of these fares, Google Flights will keep track of its price until your departure date. If the price goes down, you will be refunded the difference between what you paid and the new lower price. The amount will be credited directly to your Google Pay account.
There are a few things to keep in mind. First, you won’t get money back for small price changes — the difference needs to be more than $5. Second, there is a cap of $500 total that you can receive back in a year, and the funds can be spent on other “price guarantee” flights (maximum of three flights). Finally, you will need to have Google Pay to claim your refund.
Google says customers must look out for the “colorful badge” on flights departing from airports in the US. Customers must be signed in with the country or region as the US with prices in dollars.
While not every flight is covered, the “price guarantee” program can give you peace of mind knowing you got a good deal on your plane ticket or get some money back if the price unexpectedly drops.
By Kayaking With This California Company, You’re Giving Underserved Kids Access to the Beach
The La Jolla Ecological Reserve, also called the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, encapsulates over 6,000 acres of critical ocean habitat off the Southern California coast. The area, ringed by the cragged rocks of La Jolla Cove and the sun-drenched La Jolla Shores Beach, draws visitors year-round to its waters to witness some of the most abundant sea-life popilations in San Diego County. Since November 2010, one local tour operator has provided guests a way to experience this rich marine environment while contributing to its ongoing protection – and giving underserved youth the chance to experience the same.
To avoid harmful boat emissions, Everyday California’s excursions take guests paddling from shore to swim amongst dolphins, sea lions, and other marine life while respecting and preserving their habitats. The company’s kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling tours explore the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, home to one of the highest concentrations of sea life on the West Coast. Here they’re able to view dolphins, shovel nose guitar fish, Garibaldi, and the occasional sea turtle swimming around the reserve’s two artificial reefs.
“What makes this area so special is that the marine protected area has been around for so long that the marine life is thriving, the kelp forest is thriving, the beaches are beautiful,” Everyday California founder and CEO Chris Lynch told Matador. “When you look around the world, it’s so important to see what happens to our ecosystem when you actually protect it.
Immediately after launching the business, Lynch knew the company could make a big impact in keeping this area special.
Everyday California partnered with 1% For The Planet to boost its impact
Photo courtesy Everyday California
“We started as a couple of beach bums with an old pickup truck and some old kayaks and westsuits,” Lynch says. “We had a storage unit that we would drive to and drop our equipment down on the beach.”
Of course, getting on the water has long been part of La Jolla’s culture. What separates these tours from others, however, is the brand’s regenerative and community-building focus. Part of the revenue from each sale goes towards environmental and community efforts, including providing surfing and kayaking lessons to kids who otherwise couldn’t afford them. Through the experience, the kids not only get to surf but also learn to be stewards of the environment both at the beach and where they live.
While catching momentum with its ocean-based tours and kids programs, Lynch and his team knew they wanted to further their positive impact on the reserve’s ecosystem. The company brings in enough revenue to employ around 100 people in the summer and distributes its gear to some 150 retail locations. 75,000 people per year tour with the company or visit its flagship store in La Jolla. This level of market saturation meant Everyday California could contribute a small portion of its revenue to a viable charity and have a big impact. Lynch chose 1% For The Planet after reading reading Yvon Choinard’s book, Let My People Go Surfing.
“Seeing Patagonia do business how they have was really inspiring,” Lynch says. “We have aspirations of being a big apparel brand. Seeing what Patagonia has done leading the way with environmental stewardship, we want to do business like that. We are working towards that goal.”
Photo courtesy Everyday California
Through the partnership, Lynch and the company provide funding to non-profits including Green Wave and Urban Surf 4 Kids, which teaches surfing to kids who grow up within proximity to the ocean, but rarely get to access the ocean due to economic circumstances or lack of transportation. The company has donated more than $100,000 to date.
“It’s crazy, a lot of these kids live 20 or 30 minutes from the beach in San Diego, but they never go to the beach,” Lynch says. “If you’re in the system, you’re not allowed to go anywhere unsupervised. That’s been a huge impact for us is that they get to learn how to surf, but we also get to teach them about the marine protected environment, about the animals, about how littering 20 minutes from here is going to end up in the ocean.”
The same eco-first mindset plays out in Everyday California’s physical products. Lynch and his team began making reef-safe mineral sunscreen shortly after launching tours to ensure guests, and eventually the general beachgoing public, could access the water without leaving behind harmful chemicals. The line now includes sun- and sand-resistant shirts and hoodies, swimsuits, hats, and beach gear, all crafted to make as little impact as possible and with recycled material when they can.
“What’s important to us about sustainability is that this is why we started the company,” Lynch says. “We wouldn’t have the business success that we’ve had without that, and we always stress this in the training with our tour guides, instructors, and staff. Our goal is to teach all of our customers why this area is so special and why we need to protect it.”
In addition, Lynch and his team emphasize small action items that every beachgoer can do to help protect the areas they love.
“The most important thing is to pick up any trash that you see,” he says. “We’re always making a point of this. If you’re out on the water, leave it better than when you got there.”
In Barbados, the Coral Reef Club Hosts Pristine Beachside Accommodations
Located on the west coast of Barbados, the Coral Reef Club Hotel is a family-owned luxury resort with world-class amenities and sterling service. Eighty suites, cottages, and villas are lodged on 12 acres of landscaped gardens with only two swimming pools between your canopied bed and the Caribbean Sea. Slender yet sandy, the beach offers calm conditions. Closer to the shore and restaurant, the larger pool tends to be busier whereas the waterfall pool near the cottages flies under the radar. For utmost privacy, superior units have their own dipping pools.
The Coral Reef clientele leans toward families although it’s popular with young couples, spa-goers, and senior travelers. Hummingbirds flit between frangipani and ylang-ylang trees while monkeys are often sighted leaping between the casuarina pines. This paradisiacal report is a 15-minute walk from the duty-free stores of historic Holetown and no more than a half-hour drive to the island’s headline attractions.
We hope you love the Coral Reef Club! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Family-friendly accommodations in BarbadosResidences at the Coral Reef Club are traditionally designed with wooden balustrading, fretwork, and shutters. Luxury cottages come as one or two-bedroom units. All configurations have a spacious balcony while top-tier domains have private sunken pools bounded by palms. Kid-friendly villas comprise up to four bedrooms and vast lawns strategically placed near the largest swimming pool.
Any infant or toddler apparel – inclusive of playpens, cribs with mosquito nets, and baby monitors – is available at no extra cost. The family program entertains younger children with sailing and swimming tuition whereas tweens and teens can enjoy the complimentary paddle boards, kayaks, and Laser dinghies. Professional babysitters and childminders are only a phone call away.
This barefoot luxury resort in Barbados also caters to couples. Five coveted plantation suites come with spa-like bathrooms and private plunge pools angled at the sea. An adult-only booking period runs between late January and the end of February each year.
Starting at US$855 for two, the A-Class Arrival service is offered to all prospective guests. After a fast-track airport transfer, you’ll be whisked straight to the spa for rejuvenating massages while chilled Champagne and crudités are readied in your suite.
Wellness at the Coral Reef Club SpaPhoto: Booking
Photo: Booking
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Upgrade or not, don’t miss out on a pampering session. The wellness center sits in a secluded plot with tinkling waterfalls and birdsong supplying the soundtrack. You can’t go wrong with the signature lemongrass and ginger scrub coupled with a customized muscle melt ritual. Other facilities include the external hydro pool and a thermal suite with a crystal steam room. Yoga classes take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.Watersports, golf, and turtles
Photo: Booking
Photo: Booking
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This award-winning resort gives you the best of Barbados. Non-motorized water sports equipment including Hobie Cat and Laser dinghies, kayaks, and paddle boards come complimentary. Snorkel gear is readily available for making the most of the crystal-clear waters and open-water diving courses and excursions are bookable at the property’s diving center. Qualified divers can explore shipwrecks or splash out on a twilight dive.
Right next door to Coral Reef Club, the Barbados Sea Turtle Project welcomes guests to spectate hatchling releases. Extended volunteering placements are one way to justify a longer stay in the West Indies.
Additional amenities include complimentary tennis coaching and privileges at two supreme golf clubs. Designed by Tom Fazio, the 18-hole Green Monkey at Sandy Lane is one of the most expensive golf courses ever built. This is reflected in its exclusivity: you’ll need to plan ahead to wrangle one of the limited tee times. Over at Royal Westmoreland, you can warm up on the driving range and practice greens before tackling Robert Trent Jones Junior’s championship par 72 course.
Upscale dining at Coral Reef and sister SandpiperPerched on the shoreline, the restaurant will dazzle you first with its views, second with its culinary offering. Both are best enjoyed with a freshly shaken Spicy Reef Margarita.
The fusion a la carte menu changes daily while the buffet is loaded with an assortment of such Bajan specialties as fried flying fish, lamb stew, and jerk chicken prepared with mango and chili. And, as with all British-owned resorts in Barbados, bubbly afternoon tea is a must.
Thursday is barbecue night at the Coral Reef Hotel. With sizzling filet and sirloin steaks, pork ribs, jumbo prawns, and fish kebabs dished up alongside catch of the day, you’d be wise to skip lunch that day. Calypso, steel band, jazz, piano, and reggae acts perform nightly during the winter months. Although this is a child-friendly hotel, kids under five aren’t permitted in the restaurant after 7 p.m. but they’ll have a whale of a time with the hotel childminders.
Guests of the Coral Reef Club are invited to dine at the sister hotel, The Sandpiper. Swing by the beach bar and order the Harold’s Smile mixed in front of you by the cocktail wizard, Harold Shepherd. Skip the Mount Gay distillery tour and ask for seconds.
April 5, 2024
This Toiletry Bag Is a Neat Freak’s Ultimate Travel Accessory
As I get older, I become fussier, principally when it comes to cleanliness. I don’t travel with a bottle of Lysol or make excessive use of hand sanitizer, but I do have some quirks: I tend to avoid public bathrooms, I don’t like walking barefoot on hotel carpet, and I never put down my toiletry bag on surfaces that aren’t my own, no matter how clean they seem.
Until recently, I owned one small transparent vinyl toiletry bag for when I traveled with a carry-on only, and a huge handmade floral cloth one for when I checked a bag, both of which had to rest on a bathroom vanity to be usable, giving me the ick. Like a knight in shining armor, earlier this year, Sea to Summit sent me two of their hanging toiletry bags to test, one size small and one size large, allowing this neat freak to finally relax.
We hope you love the items we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to make a purchase. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Buy NowWhat I like about the Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag
Unsurprisingly, my favorite feature about this toiletry bag is the fact that you can hang it from a shower curtain rod, a towel rack, a robe hook, a wardrobe knob, etc. and it never has to rub on any potentially yucky surfaces. The hanging hook (which sits a neat little compartment when the bag is zipped up) is sturdy and made so that the dopp kit hangs flat without twisting or turning.
Large version, empty, with mirror. Photo: Morgane Croissant
Hook on the large version of the hanging toiletry bag. Photo: Morgane Croissant
Back pocket on the large version. Photo: Morgane Croissant
The large version, filled with all my stuff. Photo: Morgane CroissantOnce open and hanging, it’s easy to see everything inside this toiletry bag. There are two zipped mesh pockets inside the closing flap, and one mesh open pocket in the main compartment, allowing you to keep your belongings tidy, visible, and easily accessible. And because it’s made of water-resistant fabric, you can even use your wet hands to reach in for what you need without creating a soggy mess. Sea to Summit optimized the space even further by adding a zipped pocket on the back of the bag; however, it’s a thin and opaque compartment that’s not as practical as the rest, so it’s better used for stuff you don’t need all the time but want to keep dry, like tampons, pads, or tissues.
The Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag is lightweight (2.8 ounces for the small version and four ounces for the large one), soft-sided (it has no solid structure so it takes as much space in your luggage as what you put inside of it), and the way it zips up makes it very compact — all good qualities for backpackers and space-conscious carry-on travelers.
The toiletry bag when closed. Photo: Morgane CroissantBack pocket on the large version. Photo: Morgane CroissantThe shatterproof mirror, which can hang out of the bag, be tucked away, or be removed altogether, is a nice touch, but one you’ll probably only use if you’re wild camping. That said, women know that a detachable hand mirror is always a good accessories to have, whether for makeup application or vaginal health.
What could be improved upon on the Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag
I can’t fault this toiletry bag, except for its variety of sizes and colors.
Photo: Sea to Summit
The large version, full and zipped up. Photo: Morgane CroissantThe large version, filled with all my stuff. Photo: Morgane CroissantI’m no Goldilocks but I found the large version too big for my use and the small version a little too small. Granted I don’t own many beauty products or much makeup, but I was able to pack every product and tool I owned, from full-size sunscreen and deodorant to tweezers and an electric toothbrush (with its charger and my socket adaptor), in the large one, which is something I would never do for a trip. The small one is very mini, just big enough for a few travel-size products — even my manual toothbrush fits in quite snugly. I would love to see Sea to Summit create a medium hanging toiletry bag of the hanging toiletry bag for those who are neither over-packers nor minimalists.
Photo: Sea to Summit
Photo: Sea to SummitWhen it comes to the style of the hanging toiletry bag, I love the shape, but the color palette is either boring or garish. I would never suggest that an outdoors brand like Sea to Summit chooses style over substance, but a variety of patterns and more delicate colors wouldn’t go amiss — people love a cute accessory, this writer included.
While the price of this hanging toiletry bag might seem high for what looks like a simple accessory ($46.95 for the small version and $49.95 for the large one), because it’s made of rip-proof nylon, has strong zippers and a shatterproof mirror, and has a lifetime warranty, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. This toiletry bag would need to suffer years of use and abuse to need replacing.
The US’s First Glass-Dome Resort Is Opening Near Bryce Canyon National Park
Outdoorsy travelers who want to stare at the skies at night have a few options around the US, but a soon-to-open resort in Utah is taking the idea of stargazing hotels to the next level.
Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is set to open August 1 in Cannonville, Utah, roughly 15 minutes from the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park and equally close to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The resort will be the first glass-dome resort in the United States, with 62 high-end private domes. Each dome has a private bathroom and floor-to-ceiling windows, enabling guests to stargaze while lying in bed. Other amenities for guests will include on-property stargazing tours, outdoor yoga classes, and a projection movie dome. The resort will also be home to Sky Nova Café Bar & Grill, poised to be one of the largest glass-dome restaurants in the United States.
Photo: Clear Sky Bryce Canyon
While the resort is designed to be a basecamp for visitors to nearby Bryce Canyon National Park, resort developers are also hoping to attract guests wanting to take advantage of the park’s status as an International Dark Sky Park. The designation was awarded in 2019, and current estimates are that it’s possible to see 2.2 million light years away to the Andromeda Galaxy — roughly 527,000,000,000,000,000 miles from earth. Many of the park’s guided programs focus on stargazing, included ranger-led night hikes and guided telescope sessions.
Bryce Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. Photo: Colin D. Young/Shutterstock
Travelers at Clear Sky Bryce Canyon will be able to choose from standard or deluxe domes, as well as suites like a disco dome or multi-room suite to sleep eight. The resort is currently open for reservations, with rates starting around $525 per night. As of April 2024, rooms are 30 percent off as part of a grand opening special for guests who stay three or more nights.
Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon will be the second Clear Sky Resort in the US, following the opening of Clear Sky Resorts Grand Canyon, open seasonally from the end of April to mid-November. The Grand Canyon resort’s domes aren’t glass, but they do have floor-to-ceiling windows and excellent stargazing, given that the Grand Canyon is also a designated dark sky park.
Other dome resorts in the US
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Dome resorts are just starting to become more popular around the US, but there are a few available for guests who don’t have plans to be in Utah anytime soon.
Near Texas’ Big Bend National Park is the Summit at Big Bend, a domed resort in the desert. Options include glamping domes with clear walls or stargazing domes with clear roofs, and rates start at $199 per night. In Alaska, visitors to Fairbanks can take advantage of the city’s nine-month window for watching the northern lights by staying in a clear dome at Borealis Basecamp. El Mystico Ranch offers bubble domes in the high desert of New Mexico, and Airbnb offers a host of domed properties, plus a variety of glass-roofed properties in areas with great stargazing potential.
The Next 9 Full Solar Eclipses That’ll Cross the United States
Whether you have made plans to see the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, or can’t make it, know that there will always be more to come. While there were only seven years between the last two solar eclipses visible in the US (August 2017 and April 2024), you’ll have to wait nine years to see the amazing spectacle of the Moon obscuring the Sun again in the country.
The next total solar eclipse that will be visible in the US will take place in Alaska in 2033, more specifically in the Far North and the Southwest regions of the state. However, getting to Alaska to see a total solar eclipse will likely not be easy, so you may want to wait until 2044 when a total solar eclipse will be visible in Montana and North Dakota, or even 2045 when another one will cross the entire country and be observable in 11 states.
You will find more infographics at Statista
If that feels like too long to wait, you can always prepare for the next total lunar eclipse which will take place on March 14, 2025. That night, the Earth will block the Sun’s light and projects its shadow on the full Moon, making for a fantastic show that will be observable in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Another option to catch an earlier total solar eclipse is to travel abroad. There will be one visible from Greenland, Iceland, and Spain in August 2026, and one observable from Morocco, Spain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia in August 2027.
In the meantime, you can plan to see other spectacular celestial phenomena, such as the northern lights, which are regularly visible in Alaska and the continental US, or look for the Milky Way and other bright stars in some of the country’s 60-plus Dark Sky Parks.
You Can Dig Up Archeological Treasures While Mudlarking in the Heart of London
You don’t need to be a bonifide archeologist with college degrees to find treasures. In the United States, you can easily unearth gemstones and fossils if you know where to go, and in the UK, you can dig up all sorts of historical artifacts right in the capital city if you don’t mind wading through some mud and getting your hands very dirty to find them. The practice is called mudlarking, and it’s existed for several centuries.
Mudlarking is the practice of searching for artifacts and other items in the mud of riverbeds or drained reservoirs. It’s mostly associated with the banks of the Thames in London, also known as the Thames foreshore. Because the area around the Thames river has been inhabited for over 8,000 years, with London (then known as Londinium) becoming a port and trading center in the first century, there are a multitude of historical remains to be found on the riverbanks at low tide.
How long have people been mudlarking in London?Photo: username/Shutterstock
Mudlarking has existed for several hundreds years. The Museum of London explains that in the 18th and 19th centuries, poor Londoners would scavenge items from the mud to sell in order to survive. Today, mudlarkers comb the banks of the Thames as a hobby, not a necessity, although some have made it their career by writing books about the practice and creating YouTube channels where they show the process and their finds, some of which are spectacular. Lara Maiklem is one of them. Maiklem is a mudlarking specialist who’s written several books on the topic (“Mudlarking” and “A Field Guide to Larking”), made many appearances on TV, and takes part in speaking events. Well known mudlarking YouTubers include Si-finds Thames Mudlark and Nicola White mudlark – Tideline Art.
What can you find while mudlarking on the Thames foreshore?You can find just about anything in the mud of the Thames banks, from prehistoric skulls to modern trash. Mudlarkers often find old glass bottles and bottle stoppers, broken or intact ceramic items, coins, buttons, Victorian clay pipes, religious statuettes, and more among a huge variety of items that spans centuries, uses, values, and conditions.
Tash Gray, communications manager at the Port London Authority, says over email that all the objects found that could be of archeological interest must be reported to Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Museum of London. If you’ve been mudlarking and think you have dug up a treasure, you need to contact the coroner for the district in which the object was found within 14 days of the find. “In practice many finders report treasure via the Finds Liaison Officer, which is also acceptable,” Gray explains.
If you find a weapon or anything that is illegal, you must report it to the police immediately. Mudlarkers, including those with YouTube channels, commonly find guns and various bladed weapons which they properly report to the authorities.
Familiarize yourself with the Treasure Act and the Portable Antiquities Scheme’s advice for finders before you start mudlarking. The Treasure Act code of practice contains a directory of coroners.
Can I take my finds from mudlarking on the Thames foreshore home?It depends, but in general you can’t just take off with your finds. Gray explains that “the export of archaeological objects from the UK to any destination requires a UK license if the object is more than 50 years of age. The type of license required will depend on where the object was found and, in some cases, the value of the object.” By reporting your finds to the Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Museum of London, you’ll obtain guidance on how to proceed.
What do I need to do to become a mudlarker?First and foremost, you need a permit, which you can obtain by submitting an application to the Port London Authority. Note that the issuance of new permits to go mudlarking is currently on pause as the Port London Authority evaluates the impact of mudlarking on the foreshore. Gray notes that an announcement on the issuance of permits will be made later in the year.
Once you’ve obtained a permit to go mudlarking, you need to equip yourself with the following gear:
A pair of solid, waterproof boots or wadders with gripA pair of gloves to protect your hands and keep them warm. The Port London Authority recommends elbow length thick rubber glovesA small trowel or shovelBags to collect their finds (those that can hook on a belt are more practical)A waterproof jacketA spray bottle filled with water to lightly clean up whatever you dug up, and a cloth for the same purpose.Mudlarkers spend a lot of time on their knees looking for objects and some like to wear knee pads, but it’s a matter of preference. The same goes for metal detectors — you don’t necessarily need them to find objects of historical value, but many mudlarkers have them.
Is mudlarking dangerous?Mudlarking can be hazardous if you don’t pay attention to the tide. Just like the ocean, the Thames experiences two high tides and two low tides per day, every six hours or so. Mudlarking is done at low tide, when items are exposed in the mud, but mudlarkers need to be very aware that the water levels will inevitably go up and they may be trapped in the river’s strong currents and cold water if they don’t pay attention. Also, mudlarkers need to be aware of the daylight hours; being stuck on the foreshore, with no flash light to find the ladder, stairs, or ramp to go back on the road is a very dangerous practice. Wearing the proper gear will prevent falls, cuts, and more.
Is London the only place where you can mudlark?Mudlarking is not limited to London and the Thames river, it can be done on the banks of any tidal rivers or around drained reservoirs. The Northern Mudlarkers, a mother-and-daughter mudlarking duo with a YouTube channel, look for items of historical significance and value in Scotland, for example.
The First Comprehensive US Cannabis Travel Guidebook Points Readers to the Country’s Best Weed Experiences
In 2012, Colorado and Washington voters legalized recreational cannabis sales, with the first dispensaries opening in 2014. A lot has changed in the decade since. More than half of people in the United States now live in a state that allows legal recreational cannabis, while 74 percent live in a state that has legalized either medical or recreational use, according to Pew Research Center.
The cannabis scene is drastically different than it was even five years ago as more and more states legalize, with a long list of dispensaries and growers, lounges, tours, and culinary experiences found from coast to coast. Industry experts predict the legal recreational market to reach $50.9 billion in value by 2029, and Forbes puts the value of the cannabis tourism market alone at $17 billion with plenty of room to grow.
Yet cannabis remains federally illegal. This has led to a patchwork of different laws in each state, and plenty of confusion for travelers looking to consume in a place that’s new to them. Added to that, reliable cannabis travel information can be hard to come by as businesses from magazine and book publishers to tour companies remain reluctant to fully dive into cannabis until federal legalization happens.
Cannabis journalist Lauren Yoshiko’s new book, “Green Scenes: A Guide to Legal Cannabis Destinations and Experiences Across the US“, is the first comprehensive cannabis travel guide tohelp curious minds plan a weed-focused trip in the country.
Photo: Nickolaus Hines
“The goal is not just to show readers that beautiful dispensaries exist and look stylish,” Yoshiko says over a video call from Portland. “It’s like, this is a whole new world with what we can do with weed. The experiences available to somebody who enjoys weed are boundless, and I think there’s so much room for innovation in that space.”
The book highlights the various ways that people can take part in local cannabis activities of all kinds. There are culinary events and private cannabis chefs, lounges, and art collaborations, to name a few.
Hardie Grant, Yoshiko’s publisher, is based in Australia with production hubs in the US and the UK. For the American market, Hardie Grant was looking for an author who was a cannabis expert. Just as important was finding someone who knows how to curate a guidebook about the people and businesses who operate ethically.
“I was first approached by Hardie Grant, and they were like, ‘why aren’t there more weed books?’” Yoshiko says. “And actually, America is still really weird about weed, even if we have it legal in so many states. It’s just a freaky thing for a lot of these big publishers, and they were like, ‘well, we’re not freaked out.’”
Yoshiko quickly saw how the book could easily spiral into thousands of pages long even with the slightly more narrow focus of only covering states with legal recreational use. The publisher’s guidance? “Curate, curate, curate,” Yoshiko says. No small task, but one that Yoshiko is uniquely positioned for.
Photo: Lauren Yoshiko
In early 2014, Lauren Yoshiko wrote a cannabis strain review column for the Portland, Oregon, alt weekly Willamette Week under the pen name Mary Romano. It was a time when being associated with cannabis could derail a career. Oregon legalized recreational use in late 2014 with sales to start in 2015, the same year that Yoshiko dropped the pseudonym.
Since then, Yoshiko has worked at cannabis farms, ran dispensaries, and moderated cannabis panels in the United States and Canada. She continued writing about the plant for outlets like Forbes, Broccoli, Thrillist, Conde Nast, and Rolling Stone. She also co-hosted the Broccoli Talk podcast.
Yoshiko’s most recent cannabis writing is largely tied to her previous work with Broccoli, a high-design, elevated take in cannabis media. “Green Scenes” follows a similar design-forward aesthetic that’s as playful and light as it is informative for the cannabis traveler. In the few weeks I’ve had the book sitting on my coffee table, it has inevitably drawn comments about its presentation.
“I wanted it to look really fresh and modern, so that people do a double take,” Yoshiko says. “Something where they can say, ‘This is weed now? This is not the weed I knew from the ‘90s and 2000s.’”
Presently, along with her new book, she operates the Sticky Bits newsletter that covers cannabis updates for consumers and industry people alike, product recommendations, and reported deep dives into both the science of cannabis and the market itself. Throughout her career, she writes in the book, she was “observing the way [cannabis] stigma ebbed and flowed across the continent as those with cannabis-related charges struggled to get justice.” She found that the “deeper the pockets and cleaner the criminal record, the much higher likelihood of accessing and succeeding in the new world of legal weed.”
There’s long been an underlying fear among cannabis devotees that, while helping with public perception and innovation, legalization would make cannabis fall prey to big corporate investment and create a market like big tobacco. It has, in some ways, proven true. But Yoshiko’s book shows that there are still many ethical, people-first cannabis companies providing destination-worthy experiences if you know where to look.
“I love finding real farmers, not just weed growers, but people who are selling homegrown eggplants on the side of the road, but there’s also a weed farm there,” Yoshiko says. “That just feels so much more like how things should be instead of these isolated fenced in places in the middle of nowhere.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by ZoZ (@zozproductions)
To keep her book relevant in an ever-changing market, she had a fast turnaround time — especially for the book world. Conversations with her publisher started at the end of 2022, with a deadline of April 2023. The book shipped out in early 2024. Between when editing wrapped up in October 2023 and printing in March, a lot changed. “Unfortunately, there are a couple of spots in the book that no longer exist, and were I to take a closer look at all of the cities again, there’s probably a few spots I’d add.” There’s always the opportunity for a second edition, though.
“We still have so far to go” when it comes to cannabis tourism matching the depth and breadth of experiences that people can get in other types of travel, Yoshiko says. She adds that seeing the relative dearth of places to feature outside of the West Coast and Colorado was “a reminder of how hard it is to build something special in the space, because it’s really expensive and local laws make it hard. A lot businesses didn’t survive the last few years.”
That said, there are businesses and legislation driving the industry in new innovative directions. Vermont, for example, banned plastic packaging. Businesses in states that don’t allow public consumption lounges have created membership clubs where people can freely consume in a social environment rather than trying to find a private space (a particularly thorny issue in cannabis tourism, since public consumption is outlawed in all legal states and accommodations where one can legally light up are limited at best). Other states allow dual licenses so that things like houseplants can be sold alongside cannabis.
Yoshiko’s reporting is all the more relevant in states where cannabis was more recently legalized. New York, for example, where there has been increased attention on the number of illegal cannabis shop storefronts (and the seemingly unavoidable cannabis aroma just about anywhere you go, as I noticed recently on a trip in January) that have popped up since the slow legal rollout started in 2021.
“Green Scenes” is an essential guidebook for anyone looking to work cannabis tourism into their travel plans. Below is just a taste of what people can find.
Meowy Jane in Portland, MaineThe cat motif goes beyond the punny name at this women-led, cat-themed dispensary in historic Old Port. Founders and co-owners Noelle and Joe Albert made Meowy Jane feel like one part cat cafe; one part upscale boutique with clothing, jewelry, and consumption accessories; and one part dispensary selling cannabis products from vetted farms. There are robot cats throughout the shop that move and purr (which you can meet on the dispensary’s Meowy Team page), items like cat-shaped pipes, and cat adoption events with local shelters.
Meowy Jane: 3 Market St, Portland, ME 04101
The WOODS WeHo in West Hollywood, California
Photo: The WOODS WeHo / Lauren Yoshiko
Co-founded by Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher, this West Hollywood consumption lounge is a plant-filled garden with various seating areas, parrots that have been here since it was a private courtyard for the Schoos Design studio, and a koi pond. Private cabanas each have a different theme. This being Hollywood, don’t be surprised if you see some stars among the guests.
The WOODS WeHo: 8271 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Sacrilicious in BostonView this post on InstagramA post shared by Sacrilicious (@eatsacrilicious)
Sacrilicious is led by David Yusefzadeh, has worked as a chef at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta and the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, helped open Eataly Chicago, and run his own restaurant in Minneapolis, where he’s from. He also is a private chef for hire for the Boston Celtics and events. Yoshiko calls out the science-of-food approach to Yusefzadeh’s Sacrilicious cannabis-infused dinners, like fermented cannabis miso and egg yolks cured in weed-infused salt.
Sacrilicious: Contact for events and experiences
The House of Cannabis in New York City
Photo: THCNYC / Lauren Yoshiko
With the convenient initials of THCNYC, The House of Cannabis is a Soho museum with more than 10 immersive exhibits centered on the art and history of the plant. One room has a light and music show, while others have short films and gallery spaces. There’s even a mini cannabis grow and a smells room to learn more about the terpenes that give off the distinct cannabis aroma.
The House of Cannabis: 427 Broadway, New York, NY 10013
Chef Roilty in DenverView this post on InstagramA post shared by Roilty (@roilty)
Chef Jarod Farina, who goes by the moniker Chef Roilty, has taught cooking classes and major restaurants and been on TV shows like Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped 420, and Southern Charm. These days, he’s running cannabis-minded cooking classes and fine-dining dinners in Denver that feature extravagant dishes like an infused pasta served on a pillow filled with cannabis smoke.
Chef Roilty: Contact for events and experiences
Ivy Hall in Chicago
Photo: Ivy Hall / Lauren Yoshiko
Chicago natives Nigel Dandridge and David Berger run this Bucktown neighborhood dispensary. It opened with one of the city’s social equity licenses, and is just as much a palace to relax and learn about cannabis as it is a place to buy it. There’s a sensory bar to learn about aromas and terpenes, seating areas, and attractive design elements both new and historic.
Ivy Hall: 1720 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Mountain Views Tree House Joint in Monroe, WashingtonView this post on InstagramA post shared by Tracy Rice (@treehousejoint)
Glamping goes cannabis friendly at Mountain Views Tree House Joint, a four-acre property an hour north of Seattle. The four sustainably built treehouses are built into the forest and have in-unit heat, bedding, and full bathrooms. Cannabis use is permitted inside and out, and high-end smoking tools like the Stüdenglass gravity bong are available on request. Wandering the woods and immersing in nature is activity enough, though there are also seasonal events and a communal camp fire. Don’t forget to say hi to the four dogs, two fainting goats, horse, swearing African gray parrot, two alpacas, mini pig, cat, and two babydoll sheep.
Mountain Views Tree House Joint: 14308 Reiner Rd, Monroe, WA 98272
TokinTree in Cave Junction, OregonView this post on InstagramA post shared by 420 Treehouses (@420treehouses)
Located near the Oregon-California border, TokinTree House has treetop accommodations located on a working cannabis farm (meaning all guests need to be 21 or older). The main four-person treehouse sits 35 feet off the ground and is reached by stairs and a suspension bridge. Inside, there’s a kitchenette, full bathroom, couch, sleeping loft with a queen bed, and fresh ground coffee and locally grown munchies. The true selling point is it’s position overlooking the farm where you can watch the plants grow and see the activity of harvest season in the fall. The property also has a boat converted into accommodations. It’s all run by Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Treesort, which has a series of other treehouses, ziplines, events, and outdoor activities.
TokinTree: 300 Page Creek Road Cave Junction, OR 97523
NuWu North in Las VegasView this post on InstagramA post shared by NuWu LV (@nuwulv)
The biggest name in cannabis in Sin City is the massive Planet 13 that has all of the glitz and over-the-top glamor one would expect from a Las Vegas establishment. Lesser known but arguably even more interesting (and bigger) is NuWu, a 40,000-square-foot dispensary with a consumption-friendly courtyard, Sky High Lounge overlooking the Fremont Street Experience, and the area’s only 24/7 drive-through. It’s operated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, and is hands-down one of the premiere places to shop for and consume cannabis in Las Vegas.
NuWu North: 11527 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89124
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